The smaller sloops having only two points of access to the deck makes sense, especially when sailing alone, with a blunderbuss i was able to repel a galleon crew with a small amount of trouble and a few scarfed-down bananas. However, Going up to the larger galleons, where one cannot draw a weapon while still climbing the longer ladder to the deck. Does not. I know we're in the final week until launch..but making vessels more accessible and harder to defend; Requiring a bit more coordination and communication to defend might be a better direction for the larger class of ship. Even if that's just putting in another set of ladders between the foremost cannon and the quarter deck. In ship to ship combat, there is little reason to attempt to board, the vast ranges aside. unless you ram the opposing vessel.
Also..skeletons are unable to board vessels, i do hope that they have the ability to climb ladders. Especially when you approach the skeleton forts and park just a little to close to shore.
Defending from boarders is essentially camping one or two locations and waiting for the heads to pop up in my experience. Were people just...not using all the tools offered to them? Am I missing some key piece where you can hop and jump your way onto the deck?
